Massage machine



v|).`H. MURPHY MASSAGE MACHINE Feb. 28, 1933.

Filed July 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Fb. 28, 1933. D. HMURPl-wA MASSAGEMACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 28, 1930 1 O n nu:

Patented xFebf. 28, 1933 UNIT-En STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE kMassaal:

- sppncatmn mea July as,

This invention relates to an apparatus which is particularly adapted formassaglng the abdominal portions o the body.

The object of the invention is the production of a relatively simple andinexpensive apparatus that maysbeused by professional masseurs or forselfk treatmentfbyy anyone, yandwhich will roll and stretch theyabdominal muscles of the patient in suchmanner `that the naturalfunction-of the colon will be effectively assisted and facilitated.

In the embodiment of the invention'illustrated there is a casing shapedto vapproximately iit the abdomen of the patient and 15 containing amotor and an applicator designed to be rotated by the motor in thedirection of the normal action of the colon, the con.- tactelements y ofthe applicator being in the nature of rotatable balls of ysubstantialsize that may be'adjusted radiallyof the applicatorto meet theconditions of persons ofg'va-V tation of the skin by the-balls.

In the accompanying VdrawingsA Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of theapparatus withV a portion of thecasing broken away. Fig. 2 is a frontview. Fig'. 3 is a rear view. Fig.4 5 is a side elevation with the,casing and the ap-y plicator cutin diametricalsection.`

The casing of the apparatus has a circular base 1 with a wall 2extending from its fperiphery.V This wallon twodiametrically oppositesides is higher than on the diametrically opposite sides at rightlangles thereto so thatits edge 3, which is curled outwardly, willVconform more or less to the configuration of the abdomen of the averagepatient. t An electric motor 4'is secured tothe back of the base and onthe armature shaft 5 ofthe vmotor is a worm 6. This wormmeshes with aworm wheel 7 fastened to anarbor 8 that is mounted in a bearing pillar 9'which' is attached tothe back of the base. A shell 10, proor balls 23.The yokes have stems 24 which MACHINE 1930.l Serial No. 471,181.

vided on its exterior with handles 11, is fastened to the back of theVbase so as to enclose the motor and the worm and worm` wheel. The motoris designed to be connected by a plug l2 with any convenient koutletsocket and 55 o l n the currentis controlled by a switchjl located onthe shell adjacent to one ofthe handles.

The rotatable applicator has a circular plate 14 with'a central axle 15that is mounted to turn in a bushing 16 which is inserted in 60 anopening in the base. The applicator is heldin place by a disk 17 that isfastened to the inner end of the axle, and anti-friction* bearings 18are located around the axle'be-y r tweenthe inner face of the applicatorplate and the outer face of the base.

Secured to the inner face of the applicator plate is an annularV gear 19that is engaged by a pinion 20 which is fastened 'to the end of thearbor y8 of the worm wheel 7.k This gear 70 may bemade ofcompressedfiber or similarV anti-noise material so that the gearV andpinion will run noiselessly.-

Mounted on the-outer face of the applicator plateV are yokes 21 whichhave arbors 22 at their outer ends that support the means formanipulating the abdominal muscles, which mea-nsmay be in the form ofrounded vshoes are clamped against the outer face of the ap-k Slplicator plate by a disk 25 that is secured in place by a screw 26. Uponloosening the screw and releasing the clamp disk the stems of the yokesmay be moved in orout so that theradial distance of the balls from thecen'- ter of the applicator may be yadjusted to accord with the size ofthe patient. Studs `27 are arranged to project from the applicator plateeach side of the yoke stems so as to hold them firmly and ensure` theirrota'-A t-ion with the applicator plate. Y Three yokes yand balls areillustrated.` An extra set of `studs may be projected from theapplicator plate so that one of the three yokes and lballs ymay beremoved and another may be taken from the place shown and located toprovide two yokes and balls 18()o apart instead of three yokes andballs-120o apart," as indicated in Fig. 2' of the drawings; To preventthe balls from irritatingthe to be treated, the applicator is applied tothe abdomen ot the pati-ent who is in a prone position tace up, thehandles grasped and the switch thrown starting the motor, which, throughthe Worm, Worm Wheel, pinion and annular gear, rotates the applicatorplate, thus causing the applicator balls to roll around.

The patient holds the device against the abdomen and the balls, Whichare of substantial size and Widely separated, are revolved from themotor by the mechanism described in such manner as to ileX the abdominalmuscles With a continuous long Wave motion in the direction of thenormal action of the colon. The Weight of the apparatus including themotor, is utilized in obtaining the desired pressure of the applicatoragainst the abdominal Wall so that aV deep and very eil'ective massagecan be obtained in the direction of the normal action of the colon, andthis is assured as the side Wall of the casing fitting the body, tendsto retain the normal shape of the abdomen and prevent it from flatteningout. If the diaphragm is used this massage is accomplished Withoutirritating the skin of the patient.

The invention claimed is:

1. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup shaped casing having acircular side Wall with its outer edge curved to fit across the frontand down the sides of the abdomein'an applicator plate mounted to rotateWithin the casing and having forwardly projecting studs, a clamp diskremovably fastened to said plate, yokes retained between said studs bysaid disk, applicators carried by said yokes, a gear fastened to theinner tace of said plate, an electric motor secured to the back of thecasing, gearing connecting the motor With said gear, and a shellenclosing the motor and gearing.

2. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup shaped casing having acircular side Wall with. its outer edge curved to fit across the troutand down the sides of the abdomen, a circular applicator plate mountedto rotate Within the casing, yokes radially adjustable on the outer faceof said plate, means clamping the yokes to said plate, balls carried bysaid yokes, a gear fastened to the linner face `of said plate, anelectric motor secured to the back of the casing, gearing connecting themotor with said gear, and a shell enclosing the motor and gearing.

3. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup shaped casing having acircular side Wall With its outer edge curved to lit across the frontand down the sides of the abdomen, a circular applicator plate mountedto rotate Within the casing, yokes having stems radially located on theouter face ot' said plate, a centra-l disk clamping said stems to theplate, balls rotatably mounted on said yokes, a gear fastened to theinner tace of said plate, a pinion'engaging said gear, an electric motorsecured to the back of the casing, gearing connecting the motor Withsaid pinion, and a shell enclosing the motor and gearing.

4. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup shaped casing having acircular side Wall with its outer edge curved and curled to fit Vacrossthe front and down the sides of the abdomen, a circular applicator platemounted to rotate Within the casing, yokes radially'adjustable on tlieouter tace of said plate, means clamping the yokes to said plate, ballscarried by said yokes, a gear` fastened to theginner face of said plate,an electricmotor secured to the back of the casing, u

gearing connecting the motor With said gear, a shell enclosing the motorand gearing, and a flexible diaphragm with its edge tted over andretained by the curled edge of the casing and enclosing the applicator.

5. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup-shaped casing having acircula` side Wall, an applicator plate mountedV to rotate Within thecasing and having forwardly projecting studs, a clamp disk removablyfastened to said plate, yokes retained between said studs by said disk,applicators carried by said yokes, a gear fastened to the inner face ofsaidplate, an electric motor secured Within the casing, `and gearingconnecting the motor with said applicator gear.

6. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup-shaped casing having acircular side wall, an applicator plate mounted to rotate Within thecasing, yokes having stems radially located on the outer face of saidplate, a central disk clamping said stems to said plate, applicatorsrotatably mounted on said yokes, a gear attached to the inner face ofsaid plate, a pinion engaging said gear, an electric motor securedwithin the casing,

and gearing connecting the motor `with said motor with said applicatorgear, anda flexible diaphragm with its edge fitted over and retained bythe curled edge of the casing.

8. An abdominal massage machine comprising a cup-shaped casing havingacircular wall, an applicator plate mounted to rotate Within the casin g,yokes having stems located on the outer face of said plate, detachablemea `s clamping said stems to said plate, ap-

plica rs rotatably mounted on said yokes, a

gear attached to the inner face of the plate, a pinion engaging saidgear, and an electric motor secured Within the casing yand connected torotate said pinion.`

9. An abdominal .massage machine comprising a cup-shaped casing having acircular side Wall, an applicator plate mounted to rotate Within thecasing, yokes movably applied to the outer face of said plate,applicators ro- Y tatably mounted on said yokes, means detachablyclamping the yokes in *position ony the face of said plate, said meanspermitting radial adjustment of andvariations of angular relation toeach other lof the yokes on said plate, an electric motor enclosedwithin the casing, and gearing connecting the motor with said plate., Y

DANIEL HAYES MURPHY.

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